Expressing her displeasure over growing incidence of sewer overflow, water contamination and water leakage, Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Friday directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to resolve these problems within 48 hours.
The minister’s direction came following complaints from all over Delhi of sewer overflow, water contamination and water pipeline leakages.
In a note to the chief secretary, Atishi wrote, “I am enclosing 80 complaints regarding sewer overflow, water contamination and water pipeline leakage that I have received in the last 24 hours. I have brought many of these complaints to the notice of CEO DJB, but the situation on the ground hasn’t changed.”
“I am shocked that senior DJB officers have not been able to take any long-term corrective action in the matter despite recurring complaints. In absence of an effective public grievance system, the people of Delhi are being forced to live in inhuman conditions,” she added.
Citing several issues, she directed the CEO-DJB, Member (Water), Member (Finance), Member (Drainage), CEs and other officers to undertake regular ground visits in order to understand the nature of recurrent problems being faced by the public, Atishi said, “Despite my instructions that inspection reports of the CEO, Chief Engineers and other officers have to be sent to me every Monday.”
“I have not received a single inspection report. It almost seems as if the DJB wants the residents of Delhi to live with overflowing sewers, contaminated water supply and leaking water pipelines. Since sending the complaints to CEO DJB and to the Members in DJB has borne no results, I will now be sending all DJB related complaints to you. It is now your responsibility to resolve these issues,” she wrote.
The minister directed the CS to ensure that short term resolution to each of the issues must be done in 48 hours, and long term solution to be initiated within one week.